President Uhuru Declares War on 'Tuma kwa Hii Namba' Syndicate

President Kenyatta has declared war on the new wave of digital crimes in Kenya in the wake of technological advancement.

Kenyatta, who spoke on Monday during the launch of the National Forensic Laboratory at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters, said the government will use the facility to clamp down on criminal networks that are using advanced technology to defraud Kenyans.

“As we aspire for a Kenya where every citizen, enterprise, and organization has digital access and the capacity to participate and thrive in the digital economy, a new wave of crime is equally emerging that involves such things as sim swapping and the typical ‘tuma kwa hii namba’ syndicate all of which we must deal with properly,” said Uhuru.

The president further directed the ICT and Interior ministries to within two weeks inform him on how the new forensic laboratory can be used to build the capacity of the DCI’s Cybercrime Unit which is tasked with handling digital crimes.

Kenyatta noted that the ultra-modern facility will help disrupt and establish criminal patterns through forensic laboratory techniques, crime scene techniques, documentation, and proper transportation of exhibits while maintaining the chain of custody as well as improving customs and border security.

“The forensic laboratory shall complement existing infrastructure while also meeting the first changing needs for both investigators as well as all stakeholders. The facility will provide an invaluable resource not just within the criminal justice sector but also to users in educational research, civil law, human science, and other fields,” he added.

The National Forensic Laboratory is expected to fast-track investigations of serious crimes including terrorism, murder, robbery with violence, cyber-crimes, rape, among others.

The DCI said that qualified detectives in various academic scientific fields such as Computer Science, Pure Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry, Physics, and Information Technology have been deployed to the facility to offer their professional services in their respective areas of specialization.